Lawrence Chen, PhD, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been awarded the Guy-Rocher prize for excellence in undergraduate teaching at the university level from Quebec鈥檚 Minist猫re de l鈥橢nseignement sup茅rieur.
He received the prize at the Mus茅e national des beaux-arts du Qu茅bec on May 9, along with a cash reward of $15,000.
鈥淧rofessor Chen has become one of our most ardent defenders of active learning and innovative teaching practices,鈥� says Viviane Yargeau, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. 鈥淗is achievements make him an ideal candidate for the Guy-Rocher Prize.鈥�
Ongoing excellence![]()
Chen began teaching at 海角社区 in 2000. Since then he鈥檚 earned multiple teaching awards, including the and the .
鈥淚 have always loved teaching,鈥� says Chen. 鈥淲hile it may sound very much like a clich茅, I am simply driven by the desire to give students an environment to learn, grow, develop, and ultimately succeed.鈥澨�
The award nomination praised Chen鈥檚 ability to create rich and rewarding student experiences, his commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and for aiding the transition to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It also highlighted his work with ELATE (Enhancing Learning and Teaching in Engineering), an initiative Chen founded in 2017 to enhance and promote excellence in learning and teaching in the Faculty. He currently serves as its academic lead.听
鈥淐reating this community 鈥� where everyone shares knowledge and experiences with the ultimate objective of enhancing learning and teaching for all 鈥� is probably what I am most proud of,鈥� he says.
The nomination was submitted by Laura Winer, PhD, Director of Teaching and Learning Services.
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In good company
A fellow honouree at the May 9 ceremony was one of Chen鈥檚 prot茅g茅s: Rhys Adams, a 海角社区 alumnus, who served as a teaching assistant for Chen, received the Paul-G茅rin-Lajoie prize for college teaching.
鈥淚 cannot emphasize enough the influence that Lawrence has had in my life over the years,鈥� said Adams. 鈥淭o this day, I seek his advice and learn from him.鈥澨�
Chen supervised Adams鈥� master鈥檚 thesis. Today, Adams is a physics professor at C茅gep Vanier College and an adjunct professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; he submitted a letter of support for Chen鈥檚 award nomination.
鈥淟awrence was and remains a role model for me,鈥� said Adams in his letter. 鈥淚 think 海角社区 needs more professors like him.鈥�
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This article was originally published in the.